How Do the Vikings Handle Jordan Love?
When the Vikings squared off against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8, they put up 24 points and largely kept Jordan Love in check. Brian Flores has had his defense swarming quarterbacks all season, but with the development and maturation of the opposing quarterback, how do they fare the second time around?
How Do the Vikings Handle Jordan Love?
It is not as though Green Bay has turned into some sort of juggernaut, as they have the same 7-8 record Minnesota owns. However, the Packers have righted their season after getting out to a 2-5 start, and plenty of that has been because Jordan Love has taken substantial steps forward as the season has gone on.
During their first matchup, which took place on the road at Lambeau Field, Minnesota held Love to 229 yards on 41 attempts. The 5.6 yards per attempt was hardly noteworthy, and while he did put the ball in the end zone, he also threw an interception during the contest. Love showed mobility with four scrambles that translated to a team-high 34 rushing yards, but he also fumbled the ball.
As they have done all season, Minnesota dialed up plenty of pressure. Brian Flores had his players swarming to the young quarterback in hopes of additional pressure forcing him into mistakes. They got home on four separate occasions, with four different players recording at least half of a sack.
Danielle Hunter brought down Love once, but D.J. Wonnum had a big game with a pair of his own. Unfortunately, the Vikings will be without the services of Wonnum, as he suffered a torn quad in last week’s game against the Detroit Lions. With Marcus Davenport showing no real desire to make a return this season, Hunter will have another partner on the opposite edge this week. He can continue his strong season and make a statement as the focal point for the opposition.
Although Love has taken considerable steps forward as the season has gone on, this may be among his biggest tests yet. The Vikings aren’t a juggernaut in the form of the playoff landscape, but this is a solid team that can cause havoc on defense. Playing at U.S. Bank Stadium is also no cakewalk, and Love having to make his first start in hostile territory will show plenty as to how this rivalry may play out in the years ahead.
Minnesota may not find themselves in the playoffs, and even a .500 record could be a longshot as the Lions loom on the road to wrap up the season, but beating the Packers and handling Jordan Love would be a nice way to end the year. The Vikings will have quarterback uncertainty of their own to handle in the offseason, but if Green Bay sticks with Love into the foreseeable future, plenty will be gleaned from how he handles his first border battle on the road.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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